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GM' M: D D: S Iscellany Ungeon Ressing
GM' M: D D: S Iscellany Ungeon Ressing
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R AGING S WAN P RESS
GM’ S M ISCELLANY:
D UNGEON D RESSING
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P REPARE Q UICKER , P REPARE B ET TER
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ragingswan.com/gmsresource
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GM’s Miscellany: Dungeon Dressing presents loads of great features to add to your dungeon. Designed to be used both during preparation
or actual play, GM’s Miscellany: Dungeon Dressing is an invaluable addition to any GM's armoury!
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Design: Ben Armitage, Alexander Augunas, Aaron Bailey, John Product Identity: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper
Bennett, Creighton Broadhurst, Jeff Erwin, James Graham, names (characters, deities, artefacts, places and so on), dialogue,
Brian Gregory, Eric Hindley, Ben Kent, Thomas King, Greg plots, storylines, language, incidents, locations, characters,
Marks, Andrew J. Martin, Jacob W. Michaels, Julian Neale, artwork and trade dress are product identity as defined in the
Chad Perrin, David Posener, Brian Ratcliff, Pierre van Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e) and are not Open
Rooden, Liz Smith, Josh Vogt and Mike Welham Content.
Development: Creighton Broadhurst
Editing: Creighton Broadhurst and Aaron T. Huss Open Content: Except material designated as Product Identity,
Cover Design: Creighton Broadhurst the contents of GM’s Miscellany: Dungeon Dressing are Open
Layout: Creighton Broadhurst
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Interior Art: Joe Calkins, Paul Daly, Folkard, Jeff Freels, Rick
Hershey, Edward Burne Jones, Claudio Pozas, Bradley K.
McDevitt, William McAusland, Matt Morrow, Arthur
Rackham, V Shane, Frank Walls and Maciej Zagorski (The
Game Content as defined in the Open Gaming License version
1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the
material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced
in any form without written permission. The moral right of Ben
Armitage, Alexander Augunas, Aaron Bailey, John Bennett,
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Forge Studios). Some artwork copyright Paul Daly, used with Creighton Broadhurst, Jeff Erwin, James Graham, Brian Gregory,
permission. Artwork © 2008 Jeff Freels, used with Eric Hindley, Ben Kent, Thomas King, Greg Marks, Andrew J.
permission. Some artwork from Fantasy Filler Art copyright Martin, Jacob W. Michaels, Julian Neale, Chad Perrin, David
Rick Hershey, All Rights Reserved. Some artwork by Claudio Posener, Brian Ratcliff, Pierre van Rooden, Liz Smith, Josh Vogt
Pozas, copyright Expeditious Retreat Press, used with and Mike Welham to be identified as the authors of this work
permission. Some artwork copyright William McAusland, has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Designs and
used with permission. Frank Walls, Standard Stock Art Issue Patents Act 1988. ©Raging Swan Press 2014.
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Monster Mix By Empty Game Studios Publishing.
Pathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Inc., and the
Thank you for purchasing GM’s Miscellany: Dungeon Dressing; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying
we hope you enjoy it and that you check out our other fine print Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Inc., and are
and PDF products. used under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility
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Published by Raging Swan Press more information on the compatibility license.
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July 2014
ISBN: 978‐0‐9928513‐6‐1 Compatibility with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game requires the
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game from Paizo Inc.. See
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compatibility, and does not endorse this product.
To learn more about the Open Game License, visit
wizards.com/d20.
CONTENTS
Contents ................................................................................................... 2 Dungeon Entrances: Characteristics & Appearance ................................ 88
Traps by CR............................................................................................... 4 Dungeon Entrances: Dressing & Features ............................................... 90
Stat Blocks by CR ...................................................................................... 5 Dungeon Entrances: Secret Entrances .................................................... 92
About the Designers ................................................................................. 6 Dungeon Entrances: Traps & Tricks ........................................................ 94
Reading Stat Blocks .............................................................................. 292 Dungeon Names: Naming Conventions .................................................. 96
OGL Version 1.0A ................................................................................. 336 Dungeon Names: Table A (Type of Complex).......................................... 97
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Dungeon Names: Table B (Descriptor) .................................................... 98
DUNGEON DESIGN Dungeon Names: Table C (Subject) ....................................................... 100
Things To Know About A Dungeon ......................................................... 10 Dungeon Names: Table D (Proper Names) ........................................... 101
The Dungeon’s Purpose ......................................................................... 11 Dungeon Names: Table E (Parts of a Dungeon) .................................... 102
Dungeon Design ..................................................................................... 12 Fiendish Trap: Change (EL 8; XP 4,800) ................................................. 104
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Dungeon Ecology.................................................................................... 13 Fiendish Trap: Die (EL 3; XP 800) .......................................................... 106
Dungeon Dressing .................................................................................. 14 Fiendish Trap: Deprivation (EL 11; XP 12,800) ...................................... 108
Dungeon Physicality ............................................................................... 15 Fiendish Trap: Illusionary Enemies (EL 5; XP 1,600) .............................. 110
Principles of Megadungeon Design ........................................................ 16 Fiendish Trap: Obey (EL 7; XP 3,200) .................................................... 111
Alternate Dungeons ............................................................................... 18 Fiendish Trap: Optional Extras (EL 9; XP 6,400) .................................... 112
Fiendish Trap: Prismatic Hearts (EL 7; XP 3,200) ................................... 114
DUNGEON DRESSING Fiendish Trap: Relativity Fluctuation (EL 10; XP 9,600) ......................... 116
Altars: Characteristics & Appearance ..................................................... 20 Fiendish Trap: Set in Stone (EL 10; XP 9,600) ........................................ 117
Altars: Dressing & Features .................................................................... 22 Fiendish Trap: Unbalanced Morality (EL 6; XP 2,400) ........................... 118
Altars: Traps & Tricks .............................................................................. 24 Floors: Characteristics & Appearance ................................................... 120
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Archways: Characteristics & Appearance ............................................... 26
Archways: Dressing & Features .............................................................. 28
Archways: Traps & Tricks ....................................................................... 30
Bridges: Characteristics & Appearance .................................................. 32
Bridges: Dressing & Features ................................................................. 34
Floors: Dressing & Features .................................................................. 122
Floors: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................ 124
Fountains: Characteristics & Appearance ............................................. 126
Fountains: Dressing & Features ............................................................ 128
Fountains: Traps & Tricks ...................................................................... 130
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Bridges: Traps & Tricks ........................................................................... 36 Gates & Portals: Characteristics & Appearance .................................... 132
Captives: Adventurers ............................................................................ 38 Gates & Portals: Dressing & Features ................................................... 134
Captives: Merchants & Their Train ......................................................... 40 Gates & Portals: Location ..................................................................... 136
Captives: Evil Humanoids ....................................................................... 42 Goblin’s Pockets ................................................................................... 139
Captives: Hooks, Complications & Opportunities ................................... 43 Goblin’s Pockets: Utterly Worthless ..................................................... 140
Ceilings: Characteristics & Appearance .................................................. 44 Goblin’s Pockets: Broken & Battered .................................................... 141
Ceilings: Dressing & Features ................................................................. 46 Goblin’s Pockets: Yummy Nibbles ......................................................... 142
Ceilings: Tricks & Traps ........................................................................... 48 Goblin’s Pockets: Shiny Treasures ........................................................ 143
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Chests: Characteristics & Appearance .................................................... 50 Illumination .......................................................................................... 144
Chests: Dressing & Features ................................................................... 52 Illumination: Braziers ............................................................................ 146
Chests: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................ 54 Illumination: Candelabra ...................................................................... 147
Variant Monster: Alluring Mimic ............................................................ 55 Illumination: Fireplaces ........................................................................ 148
Concealed Doors: Characteristics & Appearance ................................... 56 Illumination: Lanterns ........................................................................... 150
Concealed Doors: Dressing & Features .................................................. 58 Illumination: Magical Lights .................................................................. 151
Concealed Doors: Traps & Tricks ............................................................ 60 Illumination: Torch Sconces .................................................................. 152
Illumination: Traps & Tricks .................................................................. 153
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Corpses: Characteristics and Appearance .............................................. 62
Corpses: Monsters ................................................................................. 64 Legends................................................................................................. 155
Corpses: Humanoids .............................................................................. 65 Legends: Lost Treasures ........................................................................ 156
Corpses: Adventurers ............................................................................. 66 Legends: Famed Adventurers ............................................................... 158
Corpses: Traps & Tricks .......................................................................... 67 Legends: Dungeon Features ................................................................. 160
Doom Paintings: Characteristics & Appearance ..................................... 68 Legends: Dungeon Inhabitants ............................................................. 162
Doom Paintings: Dressing & Features .................................................... 70 Legends: Events & Deeds ...................................................................... 164
Doom Paintings: Traps & Tricks .............................................................. 72 Miscellaneous Features: Carpets & Rugs .............................................. 166
Doors: Characteristics & Appearance ..................................................... 74 Miscellaneous Features: Evidence of Previous Explorers ..................... 168
Doors: Dressing & Features .................................................................... 76 Miscellaneous Features: Graffiti ........................................................... 170
Doors: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................. 78 Miscellaneous Features: Junk & Rubbish .............................................. 172
Double Doors: Characteristics & Appearance ........................................ 80 Miscellaneous Features: Locks ............................................................. 174
Double Doors: Dressing & Features ....................................................... 84 Miscellaneous Features: Mirrors .......................................................... 176
Double Doors: Traps & Tricks ................................................................. 86 Miscellaneous: Strange Atmosphere .................................................... 177
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Miscellaneous: Strange Magical Affects ............................................... 178 Walls: Dressing & Features ................................................................... 260
Miscellaneous: Strange Smells ............................................................. 180 Walls: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................. 262
Miscellaneous: Strange Sounds ............................................................ 181 Wells: Characteristics & Appearance .................................................... 264
Mundane Chest Contents: Clothes & Possessions ................................ 182 Wells: Dressing & Features ................................................................... 266
Mundane Chest Contents: Odds & Sundries ........................................ 184 Wells: Traps & Tricks............................................................................. 268
Mundane Chest Contents: Priest’s Chests ............................................ 185
Mundane Chest Contents: Provisions .................................................. 186
RIDDLES
Mundane Chest Contents: Wizard’s Chests.......................................... 187 Designing Riddles .................................................................................. 272
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Pits: Characteristics & Appearance ...................................................... 188 Using Riddles ........................................................................................ 273
Pits: Dressing & Features ..................................................................... 190 Riddles: Creatures ................................................................................. 274
Pits: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................... 192 Riddles: Descriptive .............................................................................. 276
Pools: Characteristics & Appearance .................................................... 194 Riddles: Dragons ................................................................................... 275
Pools: Dressing & Features ................................................................... 196 Riddles: The Elements ........................................................................... 289
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Pools: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................ 198 Riddles: Game Mechanics ..................................................................... 278
Pools: Magic Pools ............................................................................... 199 Riddles: Logic & Numbers ..................................................................... 280
Portcullises: Characteristics & Appearance .......................................... 200 Riddles: Objects (Intangible) ................................................................. 281
Portcullises: Dressing & Features ......................................................... 202 Riddles: Objects (Tangible) ................................................................... 282
Portcullises: Traps & Tricks ................................................................... 204 Riddles: People & Jobs .......................................................................... 283
Sarcophagi: Characteristics & Appearance ........................................... 206 Riddles: Places & Locations ................................................................... 284
Sarcophagi: Dressing & Features .......................................................... 208 Riddles: Miscellaneous Groups ............................................................. 285
Sarcophagi: Traps & Tricks ................................................................... 210 Riddles: Seven Sins ............................................................................... 288
Sarcophagi: Haunts .............................................................................. 211 Riddles: Wordplay................................................................................. 290
Secret Doors: Characteristics & Appearance ........................................ 212
TREASURE HOARDS
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Secret Doors: Dressing & Features ....................................................... 214
Secret Doors: Traps & Tricks ................................................................ 216
Simple Magic Traps: Alarm Traps ......................................................... 218
Simple Magic Traps: Boons .................................................................. 219
Simple Magic Traps: Harming Traps ..................................................... 220
Level 1 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 294
Level 2 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 296
Level 3 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 298
Level 4 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 300
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Simple Magic Traps: Impeding Traps .................................................... 221 Level 5 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 302
Simple Magic Traps: Protective Traps .................................................. 222 Level 6 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 304
Simple Magic Traps: Wounding Traps .................................................. 223 Level 7 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 306
Stairs: Characteristics & Appearance ................................................... 224 Level 8 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 308
Stairs: Dressing & Features .................................................................. 226 Level 9 Treasure Hoards ....................................................................... 310
Stairs: Traps & Tricks ............................................................................ 228 Level 10 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 312
Statues: Characteristics & Appearance ................................................ 230 Level 11 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 314
Statues: Subjects (Personalities) .......................................................... 231 Level 12 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 316
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Statues: Subjects (Beasts & Monsters) ................................................. 232 Level 13 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 318
Statues: Statue Dressing....................................................................... 233 Level 14 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 320
Statues: Traps & Tricks ......................................................................... 234 Level 15 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 322
1Strange Growths: Characteristics & Appearance ................................. 236 Level 16 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 324
Strange Growths: Dressing & Features ................................................. 238 Level 17 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 326
Tapestries: Characteristics & Appearance ............................................ 240 Level 18 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 328
1Tapestries: Dressing & Features ........................................................... 242 Level 19 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 330
1Tapestries: Traps & Tricks .................................................................... 244 Level 20 Treasure Hoards ..................................................................... 332
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Thrones: Characteristics & Appearance ............................................... 246 Using Treasure Hoards .......................................................................... 334
Thrones: Dressing & Features .............................................................. 248
Thrones: Traps & Tricks ........................................................................ 250
Trapdoors: Characteristics & Appearance ............................................ 252
Trapdoors: Dressing & Features ........................................................... 254
Trapdoors: Traps & Tricks..................................................................... 256
Walls: Characteristics & Appearance ................................................... 258
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TRAPS BY CR
CR CATEGORY PAGE 4 Dangerously Unstable Pit Pit 192
— Fountain of Rest Corpse 67 4 Deadly Dart Swarm Statue Statues 234
— Optional Extras Fiendish Trap 112 4 Enervation trap Magic 220
1‐13 Standard Pit Traps Pit 188 4 Haste boon Magic 219
3‐13 Altar Spell Traps Altar 24 4 Heroism boon Magic 219
2‐10 Summoned Forth Tapestries 245 4 Magnetic Doors Door 86
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Common Double Doors 4 Methane Filled Well Wells 268
3‐9 Door 83 Misdirecting Collapsing
Magical Traps 4 Secret Door 217
Common Magical Door Ceiling
4‐9 Door 79 4 Musical Keys Floor 124
Defences
4 Poison Candle Illumination 153
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1/2 Safe Room Thrones 250
1 Door Mounted Crossbow Secret Door 216 4 Remove disease boon Magic 219
1 Drop Cage Thrones 250 4 Spiked pit trap Magic 222
1 Ghost sound trap Magic 218 5 Archway of Echoes Archway 30
1 Light trap Magic 218 5 Black tentacles trap Magic 221
1 Poisoned Needle Door 79 5 Blaze of Fiery Death Illumination 153
1 Spiked Backrest Thrones 250 5 Cantilevered Floor Floor 124
1 The Spirit of Youth Haunt 211 5 Confusion trap Magic 221
2 Basic Dart Swarm Statue Statues 234 5 Heightened entangle trap Magic 221
2 Endure elements boon Magic 219 5 Illusionary Enemies Fiendish Trap 110
5 Obsidian flow trap Magic 223
2
2
2
2
2
Falling Blocks
Grease trap
Knock ‘em Off
Litany of sloth trap
Mute Beggar
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Magic
Bridge
Magic
Doom Painting
48
221
36
221
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5
5
5
5
Shout trap
Toppling Portcullis
Touch of slime trap
Tree of Weal & Woe
Magic
Portcullis
Magic
Fountain
218
204
220
130
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2 Seat Mounted Crossbow Thrones 250 5 Unbalanced Morality Fiendish Trap 118
2 Toppling Statues Statues 234 5 Wasp Globes Doom Painting 73
3 A Life of Love Haunt 211 5 Weakened Ceiling Door 87
3 Acid arrow trap Magic 223 6 Baleful polymorph trap Magic 220
3 Adhesive Handle Door 78 6 Biting Throne Thrones 250
3 Bashing Door Trapdoors 256 6 Black Tentacle Pool Pool 198
3 Collapsing Bridge Bridge 36 6 Crushing Ceiling Altar 24
3 Cure moderate wounds boon Magic 219 6 Door of Slumber Door 78
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8 Antimagic field trap Magic 221 9 Tears of the Dead Sarcophagus 210
8 Blade barrier trap Magic 222 9 Wall of lava trap Magic 222
8 Blasphemy trap Magic 222 9 Watery Grave Archway 31
8 Cave‐In Ceiling 48 9 Yellow Peril Statues 234
8 Change Fiendish Trap 104 10 Cadavalance Corpse 67
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8 Crushing Ceiling Ceiling 48 10 Devouring Door Door 60
8 Crushing Walls Walls 262 10 Litany of Fools Sarcophagus 210
Damaged Looking‐Glass 10 Mage’s disjunction trap Magic 221
8 Door 61
Door 10 Relativity Fluctuations Fiendish Trap 116
8 Forcecage trap Magic 222 10 Set in Stone Fiendish Trap 117
8 Forest of the Dead Corpse 67 10 The Sleep of the Dead Sarcophagus 210
8 Ki shout trap Magic 223 10 Widened acid fog trap Magic 223
8 Looking‐glass Door Door 61 11 Deprivation Fiendish Trap 108
8 Mass hold person trap Magic 218 11 Heroic invocation boon Magic 219
Mass inflict serious wounds 11 One‐Way Abattoir Doom Painting 73
8
8
8
8
8
trap
Mechanical Mimic
Reverse gravity trap
Teleport Splitter
The Gravity Well
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Walls
Magic
Secret Door
Wells
223
262
222
217
268
11
13
14
15
17
Poisoned Beads
Join Us
Venus Floor Trap
Wailing Portcullis
Wail of Last Resort
Door
Doom Painting
Floor
Portcullis
Thrones
79
72
125
205
250
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8 Well of Maddening Visions Wells 268 19 Dark Rejuvenation Haunt 211
8 What Goes Up... Trapdoors 257
9 Crushing Pit Pit 192
STAT BLOCKS BY CR
CR PAGE
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3 Animated Tapestry (N construct) 245
4 Noanmir (LE barghest) 104
5 Alluring Mimic (N aberration) 55
5 Greater Animated Tapestry (N construct) 245
5 Swallowing Chest (N construct) 54
6 Heartless Mummy (LE mummy) 115
8 Animate Dream (NE outsider) 109
Pedamare (N male advanced invisible stalker
9 112
rogue 1)
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offerings before playing HeroQuest with friends until the box fell Brian Gregory is an old school gamer returned from the
apart. When another friend put together an AD&D 2nd Edition wasteland of real life with a passion to play games and meet
game, it was love at first sight. Well, not really, but what a good people. After looking on while others wrote for publication; he’s
time! His long break from gaming came after a TPK in Ravenloft finally gotten off the sideline. As a model builder, painter and
and about 15 years of life… GM he has taken up the mission to add writer and designer to
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Now, a patent attorney and small business owner, Ben his list of credits. With a passion for setting the scene so that
enjoys reading, writing, gaming, sports and any activity with his others may tell the story, he has sought out ways for GMs to add
wife and three young children. He also brews beer while flavour and texture to their settings.
pretending to use his chemistry degrees. Ben currently plays New to publication and being a freelancer he is started his
Pathfinder in a small family game and writes for Raging Swan long journey. He brings with him 25 years of running and playing
Press, Open Design and a few other upcoming projects. role‐playing games of various genres. A former professional chef,
Aaron Bailey is an avid dungeon delver with over a decade he turns his ability to mix up various ingredients into a recipe for
of experience in facing the villainous dangers created by his best fun and creativity. Whether on the fly or in a planned session his
friend and GM Dave I’ons (who it must be said inspired Aaron to goal is to make developing the inspirational details more
be a GM and to design games).
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Aaron is looking to broaden his RPG horizons by running a
pathfinder campaign as previously he had only played AD&D 2nd
Edition. Aaron lives in Luton, just north of London in the UK with
accessible. Brian lives in Saint Louis, Missouri and is grateful to
have the four wonderful seasons. His home is shared by his cat,
which still cannot help pay the bills. Known for producing good
food and brewing good beer; he loves sharing his passion for life
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his most adored wife and their furry family of 4 cats. and fun with new people.
John Bennett makes his lair in the tree‐cloaked hills of New Jeff Erwin is a freelance writer and editor, living near Santa
Hampshire. He enjoys heavy metal, beer and cigars as much as Cruz, California. He has recently written for Paizo Publishing and
he enjoys playing RPGs. John has been writing since the age of 6 Louis J. Porter Jr. Design, as well as numerous fan publications.
when he would narrate stories about dinosaurs and robots to his He re‐entered the freelancer community after a decade‐long
mother. He has a degree in film production and a pile of reject hiatus, having produced several unpublished works for Iron
letters to go with his scripts. Currently, he is pursuing his Crown Enterprises’s Middle‐earth Roleplaying and Green
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Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He is also striving Knight’s edition of Pendragon. He’s fond of nasty traps,
to achieve at least one skill rank in Perform (guitar) but too little forbidding doors, and weird fiction. Someday, he’ll get his Indian
avail. Coerced into playing 1st edition D&D by an older (and fantasy setting for Pathfinder into print. In quasi‐real life, he’s a
bigger) kid in the neighbourhood at the age of 8, he would like to single father, a youth librarian and a poet.
take a moment to thank his friend, Danny, for introducing him to James F.D. Graham is an aspiring RPG writer/designer who is
the world of gaming many long years ago. While his friends and working hard to break into the business of RPGs. He caught the
players know what he is talking about, John has been bug after participating in the 2009 RPG Superstar Contest by
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unsuccessful in explaining what bugbears are to his family and Paizo Publishing and blushingly admits he made it into the top 8.
co‐workers, the latter fleeing his office when he begins rambling. He is currently juggling his duties as a stay‐at‐home dad with
Creighton Broadhurst lives in Torquay, England where, endless tinkering of house rules and producing his own content,
apparently, the palm trees are plastic and the weather is warm. as well as leading and playing several campaigns with friends.
He shares a ramshackle old mansion with his two children James has a B.A. in History with an interest in piracy (the
(“Genghis” and “Khan”) and his patient wife. Famed for his original kind, not electronic!). He resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia
unending love affair with booze and pizza he is an enduring along with his impish nine‐month old son and his roguish, and
GREYHAWK fan. utterly supportive, wife.
An Ennie Award winning designer (Madness At Gardmore Eric Hindley is a proud weaver of many paths and an expert
Abbey) Creighton has worked with Expeditious Retreat Press, in every field (or at least a jack of all trades). He began his RPG
Paizo and Wizards of the Coast. He believes in the Open Gaming career in the early 1990s, badgering his friends to let him have
License and is dedicated to making his games as fun and easy to the 17 Cha he needed to play 2nd edition paladins at every
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chance. He migrated to 3rd edition in 2000 because the book role‐playing games in particular, and has an almost
was shiny and new out front of a Coles bookstore on some kind encyclopaedic knowledge of the Pathfinder rules. He enjoys
of cardboard display. Pathfinder caught his interest almost reading, writing, and building and painting models. Many have
immediately after being announced, and he has been a firm said he is quite intelligent and possesses a gift with words,
believer ever since. despite a less than stellar education and a reputation for acts of
He began GMing primarily to force other people to play with idiocy. Thomas likes to think he is living proof that one is capable
him while at university in Toronto. After honing his skills picking of being smart and an idiot at the same time. He currently lives
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off characters in the far‐flung town of Banff, Alberta, Canada, he with his family in the small town of Georgetown, just outside
is currently exploring new campaign worlds with a variety of Toronto.
groups. Most of the rest of his time is spent painting toy soldiers Greg Marks is an evil mastermind directing his criminal army
for Warhammer (both fantasy and 40k) and Warmachine, of precocious felines from the birthplace of gaming: Lake
working in the entertainment industry as a technician or Geneva, Wisconsin. He and his cat minions have worked on
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tormenting an assortment of cats (and occasionally his wife, products for multiple editions of Dungeons and Dragons
Kalyna). including Complete Scoundrel, City of Stormreach, Dragon
Eric was a competitor in Paizo’s RPG Superstar competition Magic, and Dungeon Delve. They have written numerous
in 2010 and 2011, and won Open Design’s Tin Crown in 2012. adventures for the RPGA along with administering many of their
Thomas King was born in a small town in Ontario, Canada. organized play campaigns with Living Forgotten Realms being
He has endured many trials in his young life, most significantly a the most recent. Greg and his cats have also contributed
bout with cancer. He has had a lifelong passion for gaming, repeatedly to all incarnations of Dragon and Dungeon Magazine,
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and co‐authored several products for Fantasy Flight Games' Pierre van Rooden is a web developer for a Dutch
Midnight setting including: Star and Shadow, Hammer and broadcasting company, who spends a significant time of his free
Shadow, Legends of Shadow, and Honor and Shadow. He has time writing adventure games. He started writing for the RPGA
previous worked for Raging Swan Press on So What's the Zombie in 2001, and after a decade discovered he was still writing, but
Like, Anyway?, Dungeon Dressing: Secret Doors, Dungeon now being paid a lot less. A definite sign that he shouldn't give
Dressing: Thrones and Wilderness Dressing: Travellers. up his daytime job yet.
Jacob W. Michaels, a newspaper editor in eastern Fun things he got to write include Collateral, Shattered and
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Pennsylvania, has been gaming for 30 years, since he was Wrath of the Tomb of Horrors (for the RPGA’s Living Greyhawk),
introduced to Dungeons and Dragons in the third grade. He's a The Sign of Four and The Sschindylryn Heresy (for the RPGA's
two‐time finalist in Paizo's RPG Superstar competition, making Living Forgotten Realms), and a Dead Gods article for Dragon
the Top 16 in 2012 and 2014. In addition to having his first magazine. The Cultists of Havra Zhoul for Raging Swan is the first
module, Ironwall Gap Must Hold, published in 2013 with Pathfinder book he wrote, making him one of the people that
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Adventure a Week, he has had work published in Raging Swan shatters the barriers of the edition war, and shows that all role‐
Press' Random Encounters: Wilderness and Jon Brazer playing games are equal (though some may be more equal than
Enterprises' Treasury of the Sands as well as the Wayfinder others).
fanzin. All of the above is total gibberish to his Japanese wife and
He lives with his faithful hound, Holiday, who hasn't two cats, who let him get on with his games as long as he brings
inherited his interest in gaming, but enjoys when her dog friends home the catnip.
come over during games. His parents and sister have always Liz Smith was born in the UK and has lived there ever since.
been supportive of his hobby, and he appreciates his fiancée's Introduced to RPGs at the age of 14 she has been involved with
encouragement, even if her reaction to watching her first (and them one way or another ever since, most notably in the
unsee."
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only) gaming session was "there are some things you can never
has been gaming ever since. His GMing style has been likened to always had a fondness for Dungeons & Dragons and its
a horrible Frankenstein combination of historical epic, gritty offshoots. The third edition of Dungeons & Dragons renewed a
survival horror and Flight of the Concords‐style song‐filled flagging interest in roleplaying games, but the introduction of
whimsy. Pathfinder sparked a long‐dormant desire to write for
He is yet to live down naming a NPC “The Crimea Reaver”. roleplaying games. Mike has written for Clockwork Gnome
Brian J. Ratcliff was born and raised in south‐central Texas, Publishing, Open Design, Paizo, and Rite Publishing, and (much
where he lived for 18 years before moving to Arizona, meeting to his surprise) he won Paizo’s RPG Superstar contest in 2012. He
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his first gaming group, and being introduced to the video game is quite happy with the prospect of his first publication with
Neverwinter Nights and through it to D&D 3.5 in 2003. He has Raging Swan Press.
since relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he works as a Mike lives in Kernersville, North Carolina, with his ever‐
member of an accounting firm; by nights he tinkers with patient wife, two roleplaying game‐savvy children (one has
Pathfinder gaming ideas and homebrew setting and resources, started his university career, however), a puggle, three cats and
and works his way toward completing a vast array of fiction a turtle. He believes the solution to the impending empty nest
stories. When not gaming, working on gaming projects, writing, syndrome will be to allow more creatures of his imagination to
or brainstorming with his co‐author, he enjoys reading fantasy, make themselves at home.
sci‐fi, and/or anything that blends the two, playing video games
(primarily console JRPGs), and spending time with his family's
five dogs.
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D UNGEON D ESIGN
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PCS ARE AN INQUISITIVE LOT. IRRITATINGLY THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ONES DON'T JUST CHARGE INTO
THE NEAREST DUNGEON IN SEARCH OF LOOT AND GLORY. THEY ASK QUESTIONS. LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
A wise man once said that knowledge is power. One of the gather will be true and accurate. Sources can be deliberately
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principles of successful adventuring is reconnaissance. Knowing wrong or merely mislead. Others can provide correct
what the party is going to face before they face it enables them information, but from their own perspective. For example, a
to purchase the right equipment, memorise the proper spells lowly man‐at‐arms who sees a wizard cast a fireball might
and even higher appropriate henchfolk and hirelings. Clever and describe that worthy personage as an archmage!
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wise PCs start their reconnaissance before they even enter the But from where will the clever PCs gain this information?
dungeon!
A prepared GM should be able to answer these important Sages and other scholarly folk.
questions about the dungeon: Adventurers who have already been in the dungeon.
Escaped slaves and prisoners.
Who built the dungeon? Ancient and not so ancient documents (journals, diaries, maps
Why was the dungeon built? and so on).
What major events have occurred in the dungeon? Current rumours.
What is the dungeon called? Why? Legends.
Why would the party want to explore the dungeon? Talkative (or easily bribed) dungeon denizens.
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What legends and rumours are associated with the dungeon?
Does the dungeon have more than one entrance?
Does the dungeon have any particularly well known features
or locations?
Skills.
Spells.
So those are the general kind of questions PCs will (or more
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What secret(s) does the dungeon conceal? accurately should) ask about a dungeon before they delve into
What general perils lurk in the dungeon? its depths. Having the answers ready (assuming they manage to
find them) rewards clever play. It also ensures the GM does not
Having this kind of information at his fingertips enables a GM to accidentally reveal some important secret he wanted to keep
provide the appropriate information at the appropriate time. secret until later.
(Instead of revealing too much or making hasty choices that lead
to confusion later on). Of course, not all the information the PCs
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